Restaurant News 10-29-13

Restaurantdata.com News 10-29-13

Our popular weekly newsletter has been renamed the Restaurantdata.com weekly newsletter.

Readers will see the same content they are used to enjoying along with expanded content regarding the entire Restaurant Universe.

BRAND NEW DIRECTORY!

Click here and search restaurant locations by region, size, type, style, employee count, sales, cuisine, alcohol, check average, etc.

Did you Know (from deep inside the restaurant unit locator)?

-There are more than 5400 Independent Steakhouses inside the US? In CA there are 440. In IL 190, in NY 310, in TX 480, in FL 450 and in ND 20.

-In FL there are more than 7400 Independent restaurants with Full Bar Service. In CA there are more than 11,000.

-There are more than 16,000 BBQ locations in the US and 1,000 Vegetarian restaurants.

Growing Concepts

Concepts that have grown by at least 5% (if less than 50 units).

Miami, FL-based NATURAL CHICKEN GRILL has increased by 1 unit, from 13 to 14 (8% growth). This fast casual concept is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Units seat about 50 and offer catering, delivery and online ordering services. All stores are franchised and trade in FL.

Medina, OH-based ROMEO\’S PIZZA (founded 2000) has increased by 2 units, from 31 to 33 (6% growth). This fast casual pizzeria concept is open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Most locations are take-out/delivery; limited seating and beer and wine are offered at select locations. Catering is available. The restaurants are franchised and are located in OH.

Massachusetts-based COMELLA\’S HOMEMADE ITALIAN FOOD (founded 1988) has increased by 1 unit, from 9 to 10 (11% growth). This family/casual Italian restaurant concept is open for lunch and dinner, with an $8-$20+ per person check average. Units seat about 50 and offer catering and delivery services. All locations are in MA.

Albuquerque, NM-based GARCIA\’S KITCHEN (founded 1975) has increased by 1 unit, from 7 to 8 (14% growth). This family/casual Mexican concept is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a $6-$15+ per person check average. The restaurants have full bar service and seat around 125. Catering and banquet facilities are available. All locations are in NM.

FOURTH WALL RESTAURANTS of New York, NY (founded 2007) has increased by 1 unit, from 7 to 8 (14% growth), adding a new concept called Quality Italian. Other company concepts are Maloney & Porcelli (1), Park Avenue (1), Post House (1), Quality Meats (1), Riff Raff\’s (1), Smith & Wollensky (1) and The Hurricane Club (1). These tend to be upscale restaurants with full bar and seating for around 300. Meal periods are lunch and dinner. Per person check average is around $15-$50+. Banquet services are offered. All locations are in NY.

CARL\’S JR. of Carpinteria, CA (founded 1941) has increased by 57 units for Carls Jr. from 1292 to 1349 (4% concept growth). These are quick serve burger restaurants open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Seating is for around 80. Per person check average is around $4-$12+. Locations are in AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY.

Emerging and Re-emerging Concepts

Concepts with 20 units or less who grew by at least 2 units.

Vestavia Hills, AL-based TAZIKI\’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE (founded 1998) has increased by 7 units, from 20 to 27 (35% growth) and entered into CO, NC, and VA. This fast casual restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, with a $6-$15+ per person price range. The restaurants serve beer and wine and seat about 100. Catering and private party services are offered. Trading areas are AL, AR, CO, GA, NC, SC, TN, VA, and WV.

Florida-based LITTLE GREEK (founded 2004) has increased by 3 units, from 11 to 14 (27% growth) and entered into AR. This is a fast casual concept, open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Units seat about 40 and offer catering and online ordering options. All locations are franchised and trade in AR, FL, and TX.

Repeat Growers

Concepts previously written about in the past 18 months.

Sterling Heights, MI-based JET\’S PIZZA (founded 1978) has increased by 50 units, from 266 to 316 (19% growth) and entered into MO and VA. These quick serve pizzerias are open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Delivery and online ordering are available. All stores are franchised and trade in AL, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, NC, OH, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WI. We last wrote about this concept on 6/12/12 (8% growth).

Trevose, PA-based RITA\’S ITALIAN ICE (founded 1984) has increased by 9 units, from 560 to 569 (2% growth). The shops are quick serve, open for lunch and dinner hours, with a $4-$12+ per person price range. Seating is for around 20. Catering and online ordering are available. All units are franchised and trade in AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV. We last featured this company on 1/2/2013 (2% growth).

Southfield, MI-based ZOUP! FRESH SOUP COMPANY (founded 1998) has increased by 8 units, from 47 to 55 (17% growth) and entered into MO. The concept is fast casual, open for lunch and dinner, with a $4-$12+ per person check average. Unit seat about 50 and offering online ordering, catering and private party services. About half the units are franchised. Trading areas are CO, CT, DC, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MO, OH, ON, and PA. We last wrote about this company on 5/8/12 (23% growth).